Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an individually packages absorbent article that allows replacement work of an individually packaged absorbent article to be executed easily in a sanitary manner, and allows a used absorbent article to be discarded with good concealing performance.SOLUTION: An absorbent article 50 includes a liquid permeable top sheet 10, a liquid non-permeable back sheet 30, an absorber 20 disposed between these sheets, and an individually packaged sheet 70 disposed on a non-skin side of the back sheet 30. The individually packaged sheet 70 includes a first individually packaged sheet 71 and a second individually packaged sheet 72. The first individually packages sheet 71 is stuck to a non-skin side surface of the back sheet 30 through a first adhesive layer 80, and the second individually packaged sheet 72 is stuck to a non-skin side surface of the first individually packaged sheet 71 through a second adhesive layer 81. A release agent is applied to each of skin side surfaces of the first individually packaged sheet 71 and the second individually packaged sheet 72. The first individually packaged sheet 71 is colored.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Absorbent articles generally include a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent body disposed therebetween. The absorbent body absorbs body fluids such as urine that have passed through the topsheet, and the backsheet is configured to prevent the body fluids from adhering to the wearer's clothes or the like. Absorbent articles include, for example, pad products such as light incontinence pads, light incontinence liners, urine absorbent pads, sanitary napkins, and paper diaper products such as pant-type paper diapers and tape-fastened paper diapers. There are various forms depending on the application, and they are widely used regardless of age, whether elderly, adult, or infant. Absorbent articles are usually products stored in a predetermined individual package.

[0003] Among absorbent articles, in particular, pad products are generally used by fixing the non-skin side surface of the backsheet to the wearer's underwear. And since both hands are required to remove the used pad product from the underwear, it becomes difficult to remove the used pad product while holding the individual package of the newly used pad product.

[0004] When many people replace absorbent articles, they wrap the used absorbent article with the individual package of the new absorbent article and discard it. At this time, there may be no place to place the new absorbent article from the time it is taken out of the individual package until the used absorbent article is wrapped and discarded. Even if there is a stand in the toilet cubicle, there is the trouble of sticking the displacement prevention tape of the absorbent article, and there is also anxiety in terms of hygiene when placing it with the skin side down. Therefore, it is temporarily attached to one's own body or gently placed so as not to fall on the knee, but in that case, the adhesive strength of the displacement prevention tape may weaken, or there is a risk of slipping off onto the floor when moving.

[0005] Some people roll up and wrap used absorbent articles with toilet paper before throwing them away. However, compared to wrapping them in individual packages, wrapping with toilet paper is easier to open, and there is a risk that cleaners or the next user may see the used absorbent articles. Also, in order to prevent the exposure of used absorbent articles, if they are wrapped with toilet paper multiple times, the bulk increases and the trash can is likely to become full.

[0006] To solve such problems, various proposals have been made. Patent Document 1 discloses a package for an absorbent article, which has a packaging sheet for individually packaging the absorbent article and an adhesive tape with one end detachably attached to the surface of the packaging sheet and the other end joined to the longitudinal end of the packaging sheet. The adhesive tape has a first adhesive layer, a first base material, a second adhesive layer, and a second base material laminated in this order. The first adhesive layer abuts on the non-facing surface of the packaging sheet, and a connecting portion for connecting the first base material and the second base material is provided. The second adhesive layer is joined to the second base material and detachably attached to the first base material. The second base material and the second adhesive layer are configured to peel off from the first base material and be folded back around the connecting portion so that the second adhesive layer is exposed (Claim 1). According to Patent Document 1, even when there is no space to place the individual package of the absorbent article, the package of the absorbent article can be attached to the wall of the toilet cubicle or the body of the wearer via the second adhesive layer, and it is described that the replacement work of the absorbent article can be easily carried out using both hands (Paragraph 0015).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In the package of the absorbent article described in Patent Document 1, even if the package is temporarily attached to a wall or the body with the second adhesive layer, the package may still fall, so it does not provide a fundamental solution. Also, in a toilet cubicle away from home, the wall may not necessarily be hygienic.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that can hygienically and easily perform the replacement operation of the absorbent article and can discard the used absorbent article with good concealability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] In the research process for solving the above problems, the inventor of the present invention considered attaching a new absorbent article not to the body of the wearer or the wall of a toilet cubicle as in the prior art, but to the skin-side surface of a used absorbent article adhered to underwear and laminating and integrating them for handling. As a result of intensive research to realize the above idea, by using an absorbent article provided with an individual package sheet having a predetermined structure on the non-skin side surface of the back sheet, the used absorbent article and the new absorbent article can be laminated and integrated for handling, and these replacements can be carried out smoothly, easily, and hygienically. Furthermore, the inventor found that the used absorbent article can be discarded with good concealability, and thus completed the present invention. The present invention provides the following absorbent articles.

[0011] (1) An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, having an individual package sheet disposed on the non-skin side of the back sheet, the individual package sheet including a first individual package sheet and a second individual package sheet, the first individual package sheet being adhered to the non-skin side surface of the back sheet via a first adhesive layer, the second individual package sheet being adhered to the non-skin side surface of the first individual package sheet via a second adhesive layer, the first individual package sheet and the second individual package sheet each having a release agent applied to their respective skin-side surfaces, An absorbent article in which the first individual packaging sheet is colored. (2) The absorbent article according to (1) above, further comprising a pair of liquid-impermeable side sheets at both longitudinal ends of the absorbent article on the skin side surface of the top sheet. (3) The absorbent article according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the second individual packaging sheet is a resin film, paper, non-woven fabric, or a laminate of two or more of these. (4) The absorbent article according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the release agent is a silicone-based release agent or a fluorine-based release agent.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided an absorbent article capable of hygienically and easily performing the replacement work of the absorbent article and concealingly discarding the used absorbent article.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] In this specification, the wearing of the absorbent article 50 refers to the state of being worn on the body of the wearer, regardless of whether it is before or after absorbing body fluids. The longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 50 is the direction indicated by Y in the figure, which extends front and back through the crotch of the wearer when the absorbent article 50 is worn. The width direction is the direction indicated by X in the figure, which is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The thickness direction is the direction indicated by Z in the figure, in which the respective constituent members are laminated. The skin-side surface of the absorbent article 50 and its respective constituent members is the surface that contacts the skin of the wearer or faces the skin, and the non-skin-side surface is the surface that contacts the clothing of the wearer or faces the clothing. Body fluids refer to liquids discharged from the body to the outside, such as urine, blood, and moisture in soft feces.

[0015] <Absorbent article> Hereinafter, the absorbent article 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 2 show the absorbent article 50. FIG. 3 shows a series of flows of the replacement operation of the absorbent article 50. FIG. 4 shows an individual package (product) 51 of the absorbent article 50. Each figure does not define the shape of the absorbent article 50 and its respective constituent members, the size relationship of the dimensions, etc.

[0016] The absorbent article 50 of the present embodiment can be used as various absorbent articles for babies, adults, and the elderly. Among them, it can be particularly preferably used as pad products such as light incontinence pads, light incontinence liners, sanitary napkins, and diaper sheets. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 50 is, for example, in the range of 100 mm or more and 800 mm or less, and the dimension in the width direction is, for example, in the range of 50 mm or more and 500 mm or less. When each dimension is within the above numerical range, an absorbent article 50 suitable for light incontinence products, sanitary napkins, diaper sheets, etc. can be obtained.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 50 of the present embodiment includes a liquid-permeable topsheet 10 located on the skin side, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 30 disposed opposite to the topsheet 10 and located on the non-skin side, an absorber 20 disposed between the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 30, a pair of three-dimensional gathers 40 provided at both widthwise ends of the skin-side surface of the topsheet 10, a pair of liquid-impermeable side sheets 60 provided at both longitudinal ends of the skin-side surface of the topsheet 10, and an individual packaging sheet 70 provided on the non-skin side surface of the backsheet 30. The individual packaging sheet 70 includes a first individual packaging sheet 71 and a second individual packaging sheet 72. The first individual packaging sheet 71 is adhered to the non-skin side surface of the backsheet 30 via a first adhesive layer 80, and the second individual packaging sheet 72 is adhered to the non-skin side surface of the first individual packaging sheet 70 via a second adhesive layer 81. A first release layer 85 and a second release layer 86 are formed on the skin-side surfaces of the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72, respectively, by applying a release agent, and the first individual packaging sheet 71 is colored. In addition, virtual lines of folding lines 61 and 62 extending in the width direction and arranged in the longitudinal direction, which are used when the absorbent article 50 is folded and commercialized, are set on the skin-side surface of the absorbent article 50. The commercialization of the absorbent article 50 will be described later.

[0018] According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, with the used absorbent article 50a worn on the underwear 90, after attaching a new absorbent article 50b to the skin-side surface thereof with the second adhesive layer 81 exposed by removing the second individual packaging sheet 72 (FIG. 3(a)), the laminate of the used absorbent article 50a and the new absorbent article 50b is removed from the underwear 90, and the laminate is bent so that the used absorbent article 50a faces inward (FIG. 3(b)). Then, the new absorbent article 50b is separated at the boundary between the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the first adhesive layer 80 (FIG. 3(c)). Further, the bent used absorbent article 50a is wrapped with the second adhesive layer 81 and the first individual packaging sheet 71 which are part of the new absorbent article 50b. On the other hand, the new absorbent article 50b with only the first adhesive layer 80 remaining is attached to the underwear 90 with the first adhesive layer 80 (FIG. 3(d)), whereby the used absorbent article 50a is replaced with the new absorbent article 50b.

[0019] That is, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, first, since the laminate in which the absorbent article 50b is attached to the absorbent article 50a attached to the underwear 90 via the second adhesive layer 81 is grasped with both hands, the absorbent article 50b is surely prevented from falling, and it is not necessary to attach the absorbent article 50b to a wall with an unknown sanitary condition in a toilet cubicle outside the home. Furthermore, the absorbent article 50a can be easily removed from the underwear 90 as a laminate with the absorbent article 50b using both hands. Second, the laminate can be easily separated into the absorbent article 50a wrapped in the first individual packaging sheet 71 via the second adhesive layer 81 and the absorbent article 50b leaving only the first adhesive layer 80 of the individual packaging sheet 70. After the absorbent article 50b is directly attached to the underwear 90 with the first adhesive layer 80, the absorbent article 50a can be sufficiently wrapped and discarded with the first individual packaging sheet 71 using the second adhesive layer 81, so that the concealability can be significantly enhanced. Third, by coloring the first individual packaging sheet 71, it is possible to prevent accidentally peeling off the first individual packaging sheet 71 when peeling off the second individual packaging sheet 72, and the replacement operation of the absorbent article 50 can be carried out in order. Since the used absorbent article 50a is wrapped and discarded with the first individual packaging sheet 71, a further improvement in concealability can be obtained by wrapping it with the colored first individual packaging sheet 71.

[0020] The absorbent article 50 of the present embodiment has the top sheet 10, the absorbent body 20, the back sheet 30, and the individual packaging sheet 70 as basic constituent units. For example, the arrangement of the three-dimensional gathers 40 and the side sheets 60 as described above, the arrangement of a second sheet or a transfer sheet (not shown) between the top sheet 10 and the absorbent body 20, the covering of the absorbent body 20 with a carrier sheet (not shown), and various other known modifications can be added. Hereinafter, the constituent members of the absorbent article 50 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail in the order of the top sheet 10, the absorbent body 20, the back sheet 30, the three-dimensional gathers 40, the side sheets 60, and the individual packaging sheet 70.

[0021] <Top Sheet> The topsheet 10 is a liquid-permeable sheet-like base material that quickly passes body fluids toward the absorber 20 and diffuses the body fluids in the plane direction of the absorber 20. The topsheet 10 preferably has a soft feel and does not irritate the skin so that it may directly contact the skin of the wearer. Examples of the base material include a hydrophilic sheet, a composite nonwoven fabric that is a laminate of the same or different hydrophilic sheets, a perforated film such as a perforated polyethylene film, a polyethylene foam, a foamed film such as a urethane foam, and the like. Examples of the hydrophilic sheet include an air-through nonwoven fabric, a thermal-bonded nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, etc. made using synthetic fibers made of synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton. Among these, each nonwoven fabric is preferred.

[0022] From the viewpoint of improving liquid permeability, the topsheet 10 may be embossed or perforated on the surface. From the viewpoint of reducing irritation to the skin, the topsheet 10 may contain one or more of a lotion, an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory component, a pH adjuster, an antibacterial agent, a humectant, and the like. The basis weight of the topsheet 10 is, for example, 15 g / m 2 or more and 40 g / m 2 or less, or 19 g / m 2 or more and 35 g / m 2 or less. The shape of the topsheet 10 is not particularly limited, and any shape that covers part or all of the absorber 20 and is necessary to guide body fluids to the absorber 20 without leakage is acceptable.

[0023] <Absorber> The absorber 20 has a longitudinal dimension (maximum length) in the range of, for example, 100 mm or more and 800 mm or less, 150 mm or more and 500 mm or less, or 270 mm or more and 500 mm or less. The width dimension (maximum width) of the absorber 20 is in the range of, for example, 50 mm or more and 500 mm or less, 60 mm or more and 400 mm or less, or 70 mm or more and 105 mm or less. When the planar shape of the absorber 20 is hourglass-shaped, the longitudinal dimension is in the range of 180 mm or more and 800 mm or less, and the width dimensions of the front part and the rear part that respectively contact the abdomen and the back of the wearer are both in the range of 60 mm or more and 400 mm or less, and the width dimension of the central part that contacts the crotch of the wearer is in the range of 90 mm or more and 250 mm or less. Examples of the planar shape of the absorber 20 include an hourglass shape, an I-shape, a rectangle, a rounded rectangle with rounded corners, an ellipse, etc. Examples of the absorber 20 include a fluff absorber containing absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer.

[0024] (Absorbent fibers) The absorbent fibers are not particularly limited as long as they are generally used in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, paper diapers, urine pads, etc. Examples include fluff pulp, cotton, rayon, acetate, tissue, absorbent paper, hydrophilic non-woven fabric, etc. Among these, from the viewpoint of absorbency, it is preferable to use fluff pulp. Examples of the fluff pulp include those obtained by defibrating wood pulp (e.g., softwood kraft pulp (N-BKP) such as southern pine and Douglas fir), synthetic fibers, resin fibers, non-wood pulp, etc. into a cottony state. When fluff pulp is used as the absorbent fibers as the base material in the absorber 20, the basis weight of the absorbent fibers is, from the viewpoints of touch and body fluid absorption amount, etc., for example, in the range of 100 g / m 2 or more and 800 g / m 2 or less, 325 g / m 2 or more and 615 g / m 2 or less.

[0025] (Superabsorbent polymer) As the superabsorbent polymer (hereinafter also referred to as "SAP"), there is no particular limitation as long as it can absorb body fluids and prevent backflow. Examples include polyacrylate salts, polyaspartate salts, (starch-acrylic acid) graft copolymers, (acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymers, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymers, and saponified products thereof. Among these, from the viewpoint of the absorption amount per unit weight, polyacrylate salts are preferred, alkali metal polyacrylate salts are more preferred, and sodium polyacrylate is even more preferred. The superabsorbent polymer can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0026] The superabsorbent polymer is used, for example, in the form of particles, fibers, etc., but is preferably used in the form of particles from the viewpoint of ease of handling and the like. At this time, by avoiding the use of a superabsorbent polymer in the form of fine powder with poor fluidity as a powder and using a superabsorbent polymer having a median particle diameter, the basic performance related to absorption can be enhanced, and the rough touch generated by the absorber 20 hardening after absorbing body fluids can be reduced. The median particle diameter of the superabsorbent polymer 12 is, for example, in the range of 50 μm or more and 600 μm or less, or in the range of 100 μm or more and 500 μm or less. The content of the superabsorbent polymer in the absorber 20 is in the range of 40% by weight or more of the total amount of the absorber 20, or in the range of 40% by weight or more and 70% by weight or less.

[0027] In the absorber 20, the form of the absorbent fibers and the SAP may be formed by mixing SAP particles in the absorbent fibers, or may be a SAP sheet in which SAP particles are fixed between the absorbent fibers. In addition to the above-mentioned fluff absorber, as the absorber 20, an absorbent sheet including a plurality of hydrophilic sheets and a superabsorbent polymer fixed and supported therebetween can also be used. From the viewpoints of preventing leakage of the SAP particles from the absorber 20 and stabilizing the shape of the absorber 20, a carrier sheet may be provided under the absorber 20 or so as to wrap the entire absorber 20 (not shown). The base material of the carrier sheet may be any hydrophilic material, and examples thereof include hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics such as tissue, absorbent paper, and airlaid nonwoven fabric. When a plurality of carrier sheets are provided, the base materials of the plurality of carrier sheets may be the same or different.

[0028] <Backsheet> The backsheet 30 may be formed using a liquid-impermeable base material such that the body fluid held by the absorbent sheet 20 does not wet the wearer's clothing. Examples of the base material include a resin film, a composite sheet which is a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, and the like. The nonwoven fabric used for the composite sheet is not particularly limited in the manufacturing method. Examples thereof include single-layer nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond nonwoven fabric and meltblown nonwoven fabric, composite nonwoven fabrics such as a spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric laminate and a spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric laminate, and these composite materials. Examples of the resin film include polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, polypropylene, and a composite film of polyethylene and polypropylene.

[0029] The basis weight of the backsheet 30 is, for example, 15 g / m from the viewpoints of strength and processability 2 or more and 60 g / m 2It is within the following range. Also, in order to prevent stuffiness during wearing, it is preferable to make the backsheet 30 breathable. In order to make the backsheet 30 breathable, for example, a filler may be blended into the resin film of the base material, or the backsheet 30 may be embossed. Note that calcium carbonate can be cited as the filler, and the blending method can be carried out without limitation by known methods.

[0030] <Three-dimensional gather> The three-dimensional gather 40 may be provided, for example, along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 50 at both widthwise ends on the skin side surface of the topsheet 10 in order to prevent lateral leakage and the like of body fluids excreted by the wearer of the absorbent article 50. The three-dimensional gather 40 includes an elastic stretch member 40a and a water-repellent and / or waterproof sheet member 40b.

[0031] The elastic stretch member 40a is disposed along the longitudinal direction near the free end (the other end) of the sheet member 40b, imparts erectability to the free end, and enables the free end and the vicinity region of the sheet member 40b to be deformed according to the body shape of the wearer. In this embodiment, one widthwise end (fixed end) of the sheet member 40b is fixed near both widthwise ends on the skin side surface of the backsheet 30, the middle part in the width direction is fixed near both widthwise ends on the skin side surface of the topsheet 10, and the other widthwise end is a free end having erectability. The fixing position of the fixed end (one widthwise end) of the sheet member 40b is not limited to this embodiment, and examples include the non-skin side surface of the backsheet 30, near both widthwise ends on the skin side surface or the non-skin side surface of the joined body of all or part of the edges of the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 30 that houses the absorber 20 inside, near both widthwise ends on the skin side surface of the topsheet 10, and the like.

[0032] The sheet member 40b is a sheet having water repellency and / or waterproofness, and is composed of, for example, a nonwoven fabric. As the nonwoven fabric for the first sheet member, a water-repellent and / or waterproof (liquid-impermeable) nonwoven fabric formed of hydrophobic fibers can be used without particular limitation. Examples thereof include spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, and a composite nonwoven fabric (SMS nonwoven fabric) which is a spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric laminate. The basis weight of the sheet member 40b is, for example, 13 g / m 2 or more and 20 g / m 2 or less. As the elastic stretch member 40a, for example, a filamentous, string-like, or belt-like member made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, etc. can be appropriately used.

[0033] <Side Sheet> The side sheet 60 is provided, for example, at both longitudinal ends of the skin-side surface of the top sheet 10 so as to extend in the width direction of the absorbent article 50, when, for example, after use of the absorbent article 50 described later, the second adhesive layer 81 is pasted on the top sheet 10 and wrapped and discarded, to make it easier to paste the second adhesive layer 81 and more surely prevent the new absorbent article 50 for replacement from falling. That is, a pair of liquid-impermeable side sheets 60 may be provided at both longitudinal ends of the skin-side surface of the top sheet 10. As the material of the side sheet 60, a liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric or resin film similar to that used for the back sheet 30 can be used without particular limitation. The side sheet 60 is provided, for example, so as to cover both longitudinal ends of the top sheet 10 along its shape, and the dimensions in one and the other longitudinal directions are in the range of, for example, 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less.

[0034] <Individual Wrapping Sheet> The individual packaging sheet 70 is provided on the non-skin side surface of the back sheet 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the individual packaging sheet 70 is a laminate in which a first adhesive layer 80, a first release layer 85, a first individual packaging sheet 71, a second adhesive layer 81, a second release layer 86, and a second individual packaging sheet 72 are sequentially stacked in order from the skin side of the wearer of the absorbent article 50. The first individual packaging sheet 71 is colored. The first adhesive layer 80 is used, for example, to adhesively fix the entire individual packaging sheet 70 to the non-skin side surface of the back sheet 30 and the underwear 90 of the wearer. The first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second adhesive layer 81 are used, for example, to wrap and conceal the used absorbent article 50 when replacing it with a new absorbent article 50. The second individual packaging sheet 72 is used, for example, to protect the second adhesive layer 81 and is peeled off when wearing the absorbent article 50. Since the first individual packaging sheet 71 is used as a packaging material for wrapping the used absorbent article 50, by configuring it to be wider than the main body portion of the absorbent article 50 excluding the individual packaging sheet 70, the used absorbent article 50 can be reliably and concealably wrapped.

[0035] (The first and second individual packaging sheets) The first packaging sheet 71 is a colored sheet. On the other hand, it is preferable that the second individual packaging sheet 72 is not colored. The color of the coloring of the first packaging sheet 71 can be set as appropriate. In addition to coloring, it is also possible to print designs such as patterns. By wrapping the used absorbent article 50 with the first individual packaging sheet 71 that has been colored or colored and designed, the concealment is further improved, and it becomes easier to distinguish between the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72, eliminating incorrect operations such as peeling off the first individual packaging sheet 71 by mistake for the second individual packaging sheet 72, and the replacement can be carried out smoothly according to the procedure. The coloring of the non-woven fabric may be, for example, by using fibers colored by kneading a coloring agent such as a pigment or a dye to form the non-woven fabric, or by applying a coloring agent to the surface of the non-woven fabric to form a colored layer. The coloring of the resin film may be by melt-kneading the raw material resin and the coloring agent to form a film, or by forming a colored layer on the surface of the resin film by coating or the like. The coloring of the paper may be by immersing the paper itself in a solution or dispersion of a coloring agent for coloring, or by forming a colored layer on the surface of the paper by coating or the like.

[0036] For the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72, for example, a resin film, paper, non-woven fabric, or a laminate of two or more of these is used. The non-woven fabric may be an antibacterial non-woven fabric. By using an antibacterial non-woven fabric, the growth of miscellaneous bacteria and the accompanying generation of odors in the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72 are prevented, so that the replacement work of the absorbent article 50 can be carried out more hygienically and more safely. The basis weight of the antibacterial non-woven fabric used here is, from the viewpoints of strength and processability, for example, 15 g / m 2 above 50 g / m 2 and below. The basis weight of the resin film and the non-woven fabric is, from the viewpoints of strength and processability, for example, 15 g / m 2 above 30 g / m 2 and below. The basis weight of the paper is, for example, 30 g / m 2 above 70 g / m 2 and below.

[0037] An antibacterial nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric containing antibacterial fibers with an antibacterial activity of 2.0 or more. Examples of the antibacterial nonwoven fabric include a nonwoven fabric containing, as a main component, antibacterial fibers with an antibacterial activity of 2.0 or more and also containing other fibers, and a nonwoven fabric made of antibacterial fibers with an antibacterial activity of 2.0 or more. "Containing as a main component" means containing more than 50% by weight of the whole. Examples of the fibers that can be contained in addition to the antibacterial fibers include synthetic fibers made of synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton.

[0038] The antibacterial fibers are not particularly limited as long as they are fibers having antibacterial properties, but those obtained by fiberizing synthetic fibers kneaded with an inorganic antibacterial agent are preferred. As the inorganic antibacterial agent, inorganic compounds containing antibacterial metal ions such as silver, copper, and zinc can be used without particular limitation. For example, metal compounds containing the aforementioned antibacterial metal ions, zeolites, hydrotalcites, hydroxyapatites, clay minerals, inorganic porous bodies such as alumina, silica, and bentonite can be mentioned. The inorganic antibacterial agent can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The antibacterial fibers can be produced, for example, by adding one or more inorganic antibacterial agents to a synthetic resin in a molten state, kneading them, and then spinning the synthetic resin. Here, examples of the synthetic resin to which the inorganic antibacterial agent is blended include polyester resins such as polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyvinyl formal. The blending amount of the inorganic antibacterial agent with respect to the synthetic resin is, from the viewpoint of setting the antibacterial activity value within a predetermined range and the strength of the obtained antibacterial fibers, for example, in the range of 0.005% by weight or more and 0.5% by weight or less in the total amount of 100% by weight of the inorganic antibacterial agent and the synthetic resin.

[0039] In this embodiment, in accordance with the JIS L 1902 bacterial liquid absorption method, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are used, and an antibacterial test is carried out using a standard cloth (cotton cloth) as a control, and antibacterial fibers with an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more are used. Here, the antibacterial activity value is measured according to the bacterial liquid absorption method of JIS L 1902.

[0040] (Adhesive layer) Both the first adhesive layer 80 and the second adhesive layer 81 contain an adhesive that shows adhesiveness to a resin film, paper, non-woven fabric, etc. The adhesive contained in the first adhesive layer 80 and the second adhesive layer 81 is not particularly limited, and known adhesives can be used. For example, hot melt adhesives and the like can be mentioned. As the hot melt adhesive, those with a melting point of 100°C or higher and 180°C or lower can be used without particular limitation. For example, synthetic rubber-based hot melt adhesives such as styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers and styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymers, and olefin-based hot melt adhesives such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers can be mentioned. As the method for applying the hot melt adhesive to the skin-side surfaces of the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72, known methods such as the curtain coating method, the spiral method, and the slot method for applying the molten hot melt adhesive from a nozzle in a non-contact manner or in a contact manner can be used. The same adhesive may be used for the first adhesive layer 80 and the second adhesive layer 81, or different adhesives may be used. In addition, double-sided tapes or the like can also be used for the first adhesive layer 80 and the second adhesive layer 81.

[0041] As a preferred embodiment, there are embodiments in which the basis weight of the adhesive in the first adhesive layer 80 is increased compared to the basis weight of the adhesive in the second adhesive layer 81, embodiments in which the adhesive of the first adhesive layer 80 has a stronger adhesive force than the adhesive of the second adhesive layer 81, embodiments in which the area of the first adhesive layer 80 is made larger than the area of the second adhesive layer 81, and the like. According to these embodiments, when peeling the second individual packaging sheet 72, it is possible to prevent the first individual packaging sheet 71 from being accidentally peeled off as well.

[0042] (Release layer) In this embodiment, a release agent is applied to the skin-side surfaces of the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72. More specifically, first release layers 85 and second release layers 86, which are thin layers containing a release agent (or a mold release agent), are formed on the skin-side surfaces of the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72. The first release layers 85 and the second release layers 86 may be provided over the entire surface or partially on the skin-side surfaces, or may be provided in a scattered manner. According to this embodiment, the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second individual packaging sheet 72 can be easily peeled off, and the replacement work of the absorbent article 50 can be easily performed. The release agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silicone-based release agents and fluorine-based release agents. Further, by making the total area of the first release layer 85 on the skin-side surface of the first individual packaging sheet 71 smaller than the total area of the second release layer 86 on the skin-side surface of the second individual packaging sheet 72, it is possible to prevent the first individual packaging sheet 71 from being accidentally peeled off when the second individual packaging sheet 72 is peeled off.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a replacement method for replacing a used absorbent article 50a with a new absorbent article 50b. The replacement method shown in FIG. 3 includes a first step (FIG. 3(a)), a second step (FIG. 3(b)), a third step (FIG. 3(c)), and a fourth step (FIG. 3(d)), and is carried out in this order. In FIGS. 3(a) to 3(d), each main body portion of the absorbent articles 50a and 50b excluding the individual packaging sheet 70 is abbreviated as one layer, and the illustration of the first release layer 85 and the second release layer 86 is partially omitted.

[0044] In the first step shown in Fig. 3(a), after peeling off the second individual packaging sheet 72 of the new absorbent article 50b to expose the second adhesive layer 81, the new absorbent article 50b is attached via the exposed second adhesive layer 81 to the skin-side surface of the used absorbent article 50a adhered to the underwear 90, to obtain a laminate of the absorbent article 50b and the absorbent article 50a (hereinafter simply referred to as "laminate"). By removing this laminate from the underwear 90 using both hands (not shown), it becomes unnecessary to adhere the new absorbent article 50b to the wearer's body, the wall surface of the toilet cubicle, etc. Since a second release layer 86 is formed between the second individual packaging sheet 72 and the second adhesive layer 81, by applying a little force to the end of the second individual packaging sheet 72 and pulling, only the second individual packaging sheet 72 can be easily peeled off. Also, since the first individual packaging sheet 71 is colored, when peeling off the second individual packaging sheet 72, it becomes impossible to accidentally peel off the first individual packaging sheet 71.

[0045] In the second step shown in Fig. 3(b), the laminate obtained in the first step is folded in half so that the used absorbent article 50a is on the inside. At this time, the folding direction may be either the longitudinal direction or the width direction, but it is preferably folded in the longitudinal direction from the viewpoint of ease of folding. Also, the folded laminate can be grasped with both hands.

[0046] In the third step shown in Fig. 3(c), while maintaining the folded state of the used absorbent article 50a, the folded laminate obtained in the second step is gradually separated using both hands at the interface (first release layer 85) between the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the first adhesive layer 80 of the new absorbent article 50b, to obtain the used absorbent article 50a wrapped in the first individual packaging sheet 71 in a folded state via the second adhesive layer 81, and the new absorbent article 50b in which only the first adhesive layer 80 of the individual packaging sheet 70 remains on the non-skin-side surface of the backsheet 30. By configuring the first individual packaging sheet 71 to be wider than the main body portion of the absorbent article 50b excluding the individual packaging sheet 70, the used absorbent article 50a can be reliably wrapped.

[0047] In the fourth step shown in Fig. 3(d), a new absorbent article 50b in which only the first adhesive layer 80 obtained in the third step remains on the non-skin side surface of the backsheet 30 is attached to the underwear 90 by the first adhesive layer 80, and the used absorbent article 50a wrapped in a two-fold manner with good concealability by the first individual packaging sheet 71 obtained in the third step is discarded into a trash can or the like, and the replacement operation is completed.

[0048] Thus, according to the present embodiment, during the replacement operation, both hands are not blocked, there is no need to attach the new absorbent article 50b to a wall surface or the like, there is no risk of dropping onto the floor, and the replacement operation can be carried out hygienically and safely.

[0049] <Method for manufacturing absorbent article> The absorbent article 50 can be manufactured by a known manufacturing method. For example, a step of accommodating an absorbent body 20 between a topsheet 10 and a backsheet 30, a step of fixing the edges of the topsheet 10 and the edges of the backsheet 30 in part or over the entire circumference using a hot melt adhesive, heat embossing, ultrasonic embossing, high-frequency embossing, etc., a step of installing a three-dimensional gather 40 at a predetermined position on the backsheet 30 and the topsheet 10, a step of disposing a pair of side sheets 60 as necessary, and a step of adhering an individual packaging sheet 70 to the non-skin side surface of the backsheet 30 by a first adhesive layer 80. A manufacturing method including these steps can be mentioned. Leg gathers, waist gathers, side flaps, etc. are appropriately provided on the absorbent article 50 as necessary. The absorbent article 50 thus obtained is folded and, if necessary, stored in an individual package made of a resin film or the like and commercialized.

[0050] As described above, the absorbent article 50 produced as such has, as shown in FIG. 1, two folding lines (virtual lines) 61 and 62 extending in the width direction defined at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction. The area from the folding line 61 to one end in the longitudinal direction on the side closest to it is defined as the area 50B, and the area from the folding line 62 to the other end in the longitudinal direction on the side closest to it is defined as the area 50A. When commercializing the absorbent article 50, as shown in FIG. 4, the areas 50A and 50B are each folded toward the skin-side surface of the top sheet 10 to obtain a folded body of the absorbent article 50, and this folded body is packaged with a resin film 55. The packaging of the folded body with the resin film 55 is, for example, by folding the resin film 55 in the longitudinal direction and sealing the end of the resin film 55 on the outer peripheral side and the resin film 55 on the inner peripheral side with a tape (for example, a tag tape) 87, and sealing both ends in the width direction by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc. to form a seal portion 55a. Thus, the folded body of the absorbent article 50 is packaged with the resin film 55, and a product 51 that is an individual package is obtained. If the seal 87 of the product 51 is opened and the absorbent article 50 is taken out, the used absorbent article 50 folded in two and covered with the first individual packaging sheet 71 and the second adhesive layer 81 can be stored to further enhance the concealability and then discarded.

[0051] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments. Needless to say, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments and examples. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Also, it is obvious from the description of the claims that forms with such changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 10 Top sheet 20 Absorbent body 30 Back sheet 40 Three-dimensional gathers 40a Elastic stretch member 40b Sheet member 50, 50a, 50b Absorbent articles 51 Product (individual package) 55 Resin film 55a Sealing part 60 Side sheet 61, 62 Fold lines 70 Unit packaging sheet 71 First unit packaging sheet 72 Second unit packaging sheet 80 First adhesive layer 81 Second adhesive layer 85 First release layer 86 Second release layer 87 Tape 90 Underwear

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, having an individual wrapping sheet disposed on the non-skin side of the backsheet, wherein the individual wrapping sheet includes a first individual wrapping sheet and a second individual wrapping sheet, the first individual wrapping sheet is adhered to the non-skin side surface of the backsheet via a first adhesive layer, the second individual wrapping sheet is adhered to the non-skin side surface of the first individual wrapping sheet via a second adhesive layer, release agents are respectively applied to the skin-side surfaces of the first individual wrapping sheet and the second individual wrapping sheet, the second individual wrapping sheet is peelable and removable from the first individual wrapping sheet, and the first individual wrapping sheet is colored. An absorbent article.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of liquid-impermeable side sheets at both longitudinal ends of the absorbent article on the skin-side surface of the topsheet.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second individual wrapping sheet is a resin film, paper, non-woven fabric, or a laminate of two or more of these.

4. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the release agent is a silicone-based release agent or a fluorine-based release agent.

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